New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Preview

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PPG Paints Arena will be hosting a Metropolitan Division tilt as the New York Rangers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The action will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 5, and you are able to catch it live on NBC Sports Network.

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds

Pittsburgh (-150) is currently favored over New York (+130), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under). Losing 1.1 units for moneyline bettors, the Penguins are 15-13 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Among the teams 28 games this season, 15 have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 9-3 SU at home. Pittsburgh’s been able to convert on 25.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all penalties. Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.8 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over its past five matchups total, and 4.8 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for 10.6 minutes per contest over its last five home games. Boasting a .906 save percentage and 26.6 saves per game, Matt Murray (12 wins, nine losses, and one OT loss) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Penguins this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to give him the night off, however, the Pens may roll with Tristan Jarry (4-2-2 record, .937 save percentage, 1.99 goals against average). Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will both look to continue their strong seasons for the Penguins. Kessel (33 points) has produced 12 goals and 21 assists and has recorded multiple points in eight different games this year. Crosby has 12 goals and 17 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 17 games. On the other side of the rink, New York is 14-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 26 regular season contests, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just two have pushed. New York’s 3-5 SU as the away team this season. New York has scored on 22.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties. New York’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings. Henrik Lundqvist (27.3 saves per game) has been the main choice in the net for New York. Lundqvist owns a 13-10-2 record, while registering a .917 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average this year. Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Rangers will be Mika Zibanejad (11 goals, 11 assists) and Mats Zuccarello (four goals, 16 assists).

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks

Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • The over has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
  • New York has managed 34.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh is averaging 39.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
  • Pittsburgh has scored 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 4.8 per match up over its four-game win streak.
  • Over New York’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
  • The Pens this season have handed the eighth-most hits per game (23.6), but the team’s averaged 27.6 over their last five games as the home team.